US applauds UPDF for serving beyond its mandate in Somalia

 The United States Special Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has applauded the Uganda People's Defence Forces's (UPDF) efforts in Somalia.

Thomas-Greenfield lauded the UPDF for evacuating casualties and the dead from the battlefield and especially in the hard-to-reach areas.

She said the US appreciates Uganda and her Sector 1 UPDF-ATMIS Contingent in Somalia for supporting Somali Security Forces (SSF) beyond its mandate.

Thomas-Greenfield remarked during the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) working lunch held in her honour at the USA Embassy in Mogadishu. ;

She was accompanied by the United States Ambassador to Somalia H.E Larry Andre as well as the Technical Team from the United States Mission in New York.

Also in the meeting was Ambassador El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to Somalia, Ambassador Thomas Kipkosgei Chepkuto of the Republic of Kenya to Somalia, Brig, Gen. Peter Omola, Ag. ATMIS Force Commander and UPDF Contingent Commander in Somalia and Robert Mugimba, the Charge D’ Affairs, at the Uganda High Commission in Somalia.

The meeting discussed among others; Somali Security Forces/Somali National Army (SSF/SNA) Force generation, the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the ATMIS drawdown Plan, Support to SSF/SNA, and Financing of the ATMIS and its operations.

In addition to affirming strengthened cooperation, the meeting also underscored the importance of the Coordination of Actors, gradual implementation of the CONOPS, and strategic drawdown process that would take into consideration the interests and safety of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) as well as partners.

On her part, Uganda commended the United States for being a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and for supporting the ATMIS Mission and in particular UPDF in Sector 1 that secures the whole of Mogadishu and Banadir region in Somalia.